Program Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

Malissa J. Wood MD, FACC Co-director MGH Heart Center Corrigan Women’s Heart Health Program Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

Symptoms

• f a Heart Attack

 Chest pain, discomfort, pressure or squeezing are the most common

symptoms for men and women

 Women are somewhat more likely than men to experience other heart

attack symptoms, including:

 Unusual upper body pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back,

shoulder, neck, jaw, or upper part of the stomach

 Shortness of breath  Nausea/Vomiting  Unusual or unexplained fatigue  Breaking out in a cold sweat  Light-headedness or sudden dizziness

 If any of these symptoms occur, call 9–1–1 for emergency medical care.

2 Source: Mosca et al. 2010.

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

F.A.S.T. IS

• Face Drooping Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the

person to smile.

• Arm Weakness Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both
• arms. Does one arm drift downward?
• Speech Difficulty Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they

hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like "the sky is blue." Is the sentence repeated correctly?

• Time to call 911 If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the

symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

Being Smart at Heart!

 Physical Health  Emotional Health  Stress Management

Exercise

 Nutrition  Relationships  Communication  Environment  Mindfulness  Modification

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

Physical Health

 Know your numbers:

 Blood pressure, body mass

index, cholesterol

 Family History  What is your individual risk  What can you do about it  Health Maintenance

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

Living Better with “Life’s Simple Seven”

Our Goal: To give you the tools to help you improve a few simple things, “Life’s Simple Seven”, that will help you to have a healthier life

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Building healthier lives free of cardiovascular disease & stroke.

Life’s Simple 7TM

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

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In a recent national survey…

39% of adults thought they were in ideal cardiovascular health 54% of these adults also reported that a doctor had told them they had a risk factor for heart disease and needed to make a lifestyle change to improve their cardiovascular health. Fewer than half of those surveyed knew their cholesterol, BMI, or glucose numbers.

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

Less than 1% of Americans are in ideal cardiovascular health.

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In reality….

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

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There is good news

If you are in ideal cardiovascular health by the age of 50, you can expect to live another 40 years free of heart disease and stroke.

• 1. Don’t Smoke
• 2. Get Active
• 3. Manage Blood Pressure
• 4. Control Cholesterol
• 5. Reduce Blood Sugar
• 6. Eat Better
• 7. Control your Weight

Aim to be in ideal status in each category for ideal cardiovascular health!

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

Don’t Smoke

Smoking is the number one modifiable cause of death.

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• Talk with your healthcare provider
• Focus on the rewards
• Plan your response to roadblocks

Take Action!

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

Get Active

People who exercise have better health than those who do not 2 ½ hrs of regular moderate vigorous activity weekly

Take Action!

• Choose activities you enjoy
• Partner with someone

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

Manage Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is the single most significant risk factor for heart disease!

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• Know your numbers
• Track your progress
• Learn healthy habits for eating well

& staying active.

Take Action!

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

Control Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance that can build up in the walls of arteries Too much cholesterol in your blood places you at major risk for heart disease and stroke Aim: LDL – low & HDL – high

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• Follow your healthcare provider’s advice
• Make healthy food choices
• Get active

Take Action!

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

Reduce Blood Sugar

High blood sugar promotes the growth of plaque in your arteries Increases your risk for heart disease and diabetes

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Take Action!

• Make good food choices
• Commit to regular physical activity
• Maintain a healthy weight

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

Eat Better

A variety of heart-healthy nutrition keeps you living at your best health potential.

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Say yes to:

• Lots of fruits and vegetables
• Whole grain carbohydrates
• Fat-free and low-fat dairy products
• Fish with omega-3 fatty acids

Say no to:

• Foods and beverages with added sugar
• Products high in sodium

Take Action!

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

Lose Weight

A BMI of less than 25 is optimal for cardiovascular health.

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For effective weight loss, start here:

• Know your BMI
• Know how many calories you need

The weight-loss plan:

• Reduce calories in: plan your food choices

and stick with your plan

• Increase calories out: engage in regular

physical activity, 30-45 minutes per day

Take Action!

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

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My Life Check

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

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My Life Check

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

Website

www.heart.org/MyLifeCheck

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Life’s Simple 7TM

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

Emotional Health

 Depression and anxiety linked

to heart disease

 Are you living under undue

depression/anxiety?

 Develop strategies for dealing

with this

 Seek professional help when

necessary

 Tips: Understand what makes

you anxious

 Address the issues directly  Don’t relive the drama

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

Stress Management

 Stress leads to unhealthy behaviors  Stress can raise blood pressure, heart rate and lead to

sedentary behavior

 Leads to problems with sleep, headaches, back and

neck pain, palpitations

 Solutions:

 Be thankful for the stress  Forget perfection  Breathe deeply

 Relaxation response

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

Relationships

Who we choose to

spend time with affects our health

The power of social

connections

Loneliness Unhealthy

relationships

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

Relationships

 Assess your close relationships

 Defuse/disengage from toxic or unhealthy relationships  Embrace and cherish those around you who are truly supportive

 Find and build a supportive network  Do your part-listen well and actively engage  Positive and negative health habits pervade our social networks  Be an agent of change not only for yourself but for your friends and

family

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

Your Environment

 Where you spend your time

can affect how you feel: Important aspects include: light, air quality, lack of clutter, clean air,

 Disorganized living translates

into poor health

 Creating an environment that

is peaceful, healthy and enjoyable is key

 Improve natural light  Add some green

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

Communication

 Miscommunication is

responsible for many of the issues we encounter on a day to day basis

 Technologically driven society

– texting IM’ing, email

 Negatively charged

communication can be harmful to our health

 Manage how you

communicate-even with yourself!

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

Conclusions:

 Women are at risk of heart disease

 A lifelong approach to prevention is necessary, it is never

to late to change your health habits

 Recognize symptoms when they occur  Never be afraid to seek medical attention  Know your risk and numbers  Engage friends and family in making healthy choices

Living Better with Life’s Simple 7 American Heart Association

Know Your Numbers…Tell a Friend!